FIELD NOTES TALKS CORN CROP WITH FARMER IN MINNESOTA, IOWA

JULY 2016

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(Posted Fri. Jul 8th, 2016)

The National Corn Growers Association continues its sixth season of Field Notes, a series that takes readers behind the farm gate to follow the year in the life of American farm families. While these growers come from diverse geographic areas and run unique operations, they share a common love for U.S. agriculture and the basic values that underpin life in farming communities.

This week, Field Notes caught up with Dan Erickson, who farms in Minnesota, to discuss the condition of the corn crop in his area.

“Right here, in my area, we are just short of tassel,” he explained. “In fact, I think we are going to have tasseling within a week here. It is coming along nicely.”

Then, Field Notes spoke with April Hemmes, who farms in north central Iowa. While her crop is in the “Goldilocks” area of her state, she shares not just her take on corn but also her recent experiences as a farmer discussing sustainability in China.

“Right now, the corn is just starting to tassel, and, for northern Iowa, that is pretty good timing,” Hemmes said. “The northwest part of the state is too wet. The southeast part of the state is too dry. I am like Goldilocks here. I am just right.”